At it again -

the snow is falling, has been since mid evening last night. I do have to say that it really is pretty out. Reports say this will go on all day. Not sure yet if the day will be cancelled, if it is will snuggle in with tea and crochet. Now what a hardship that would be!!!

Stay safe and warm. Blessings.

Monday Menu

Having arrived home a short while ago I stepped into a house full of wonderful cooking scents as my crock pot is simmering away with tomorrow night's dinner - Teriyaki Pork Roast. I can only hope that this tastes as good as it smells.

Tomorrow night's dinner will be:

Terriyaki Pork Roast

Green beans with chic peas in oil and garlic

Mashed potatoes

Green salad

Pineapple slices

Teriyaki Pork Roast

3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice (I used chicken broth, the recipe writer did also)

2 tablespoons sugar (I left out)

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon peper

1 bonelss pork loin roast (about 3 pounds)

------

2 tablespoons cornstarch

3 tablespoons cold water

Combine first seven ingredients in a greasted slow cooker. Add roast and turn to coat. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until a thermometer inserted into the roast reads 160 degrees.

Remove roast and keep warm. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth; stir in cooking juices. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes of until thickened.

Yield: 8 servings.

2/16 addendum: This was ok, it did need the gravy. After trying this I think a pork loin oven roasted is better.

My Valentine Dessert

Made these for a Valentine's Day dessert. Ohhhh, these are so very good - a keeper recipe. They are quite simple to make and the ingredients are usually what is on hand ... I didn't have a fresh lemon to I used Real Lemon and obviously then left out the zest.

The recipe is from Lemon Pudding Cakes Recipe - Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan Food & Wine

These will be on the table later this afternoon with some strawberries and a small box of chocolates at each place setting.

Lemon Pudding Cakes


3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour
3 large eggs, separated
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup skim milk
5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt



Preheat over to 350 degrees. Spray six 6 ounce ramekins with vegetable oil spray. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar with the flour. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the butter until well blended. Whisk in the milk, lemon juice and lemon zest. Pour the lemon mixture into the sugar mixture and whisk until smooth.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until firm peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the lemon mixture. Pour the batter in the prepared ramekins and transfer them to a roating pan. Place the pan in the oven and pour enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Bake the pudding cakes for 35 minutes or until they are puffy and golden on top. Using tongs, transfer the ramekins to a rack to cool for 20 minutes.

These can be refrigerated for 2 days.

Valentine

Wishing you love.

My Happy Ghan

This is the "small" afghan I started when we were teaching crochet. The pattern comes from a Michael's project sheet for a scarf. The scarf strips are 5 inches wide. Initially I was going to do a lapghan but I have a throw that is a nice comfy size (54 x 45) and I have decided to go with that although with the joins between the strips it may be somewhat larger, we'll have to see where it comes out. Now, I don't know if its my age or what, but these bright colors have become very attractive to me, I'm not sure that I would have looked twice at these color yarns several years ago.

Leftover from my wool eater blanket are the Red Heart yarns shocking pink, lavender and pumpkin, I did purchase the turqua to add more (?) contrast. Do you think I needed it?? ... any way, I'm loving the colors and the joining done in the shocking pink.

I love the texture and warmth of this pattern and it is very easy to do. Great for sitting in front of the tv and crocheting away! Here I am using a size G Hook. Its about 1/3 of the way done. I will try using a larger hook for the next one.

Wishing you happiness and blessings all the day.

Toasty Warm Bunting

I dug this out the other day during a crochet lesson and as it has red embroidery and hearts I thought it was appropriate to post for Valentine's day.

Years ago, actually 25 plus, I made this bunting for my son. Its really very simple and although I cannot find the pattern, it is easy to duplicate.

Its done in all single crochet - two rectangles, the back being longer then the front. The single crochet pattern makes it simple to embroider a pattern on the front piece, then line in a "lamb's wool" type material and join front to back with a border edging of single crochet and picots.

When I used this I would put on him a red pram suit, he was soooo adorable. I would get stopped and asked where I got this.

I think I have to add this to my to do list and make a few more.

Completed!

This is the first time I have ever repaired a crocheted cloth. I have had this now for close to a year. At first I was quite overwhelmed with the repairs to be made but at last I got the hang of it and it is now completed ... finally.

This beautiful piece is close to 100 years old and belongs to a woman at my church whose grandmother had made this. The stitches are so very tiny and so very perfect.

This is truly a treasure.

Brrrrrrr

No mistaking it is winter out, quite cold and will be for the next several days, however, we more then lucked out without as much as a single snowflake. My mother always used to say you could smell snow and sure enough Friday you could so thought we might get something, but no. (thank you!) while south of us is covered in feet of snow. Winter has had a good ole time of making its presence known this year; I think spring will be a welcomed guest.

Have a blessed day, keep warm and safe.

Over The Top Award

and the questions to be answered with a one word response:

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your hair? Graying
3. Your mother? Heaven
4. Your father? Heaven
5. Your favorite food? many
6. Your dream last night? lost
7. Your favorite drink? cosmopolitan
8. Your dream/goal? Peace
9. What room are you in? computer
10. Your hobby? crochet
11. Your fear? illness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Virginia
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something you aren't? Lazy
15. Muffins? Corn
16. Wish list item? Virginia
17. Where did you grow up? North
18. Last thing you did? crochet
19. What are you wearing? jeans
20. Your TV? on
21. Your pets? none
22. Your friends? blessings
23. Your life? busy
24. Your mood? good
25. Missing someone? sometimes
26. Vehicle? Ford
27. Something you're not wearing? makeup
28. Your favorite store? books
29. Your favorite color? yellow
30. When was the last time you laughed? earlier
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? wonderful
33. One place that I go over and over? B&N
34. One person who e mails me regularly? Diane
35. Favorite place to eat? Capri


And now to pass the Over The Top award on ..... to:
Rita - Gramma Rita's Blog - (http://grammarita.blogspot.com/) a sweet woman and gramma. It is a delight to see her pictures of her beautiful grandchildren and watch them grown. She also shares my passion of making doilies....
and to Ana Luisa - Cross Stitch and Crochet -(http://wwwpixie56.blogspot.com/) another crocheter. Her work is just beautiful.

My first award ....

Oh my goodness I just got my first award ... I am so very touched. Tammy, from T's Daily Treasures sent to me. I have to beg forgiveness right now as I'm out of time at the moment and have to run but will be back later. Tammy, thank you. You are such a sweet heart. There are questions to answer and then pass onto three others. Stay tuned!

Sweet Heart Pattern

Sweet Heart with white trim
Size 4 hook
Small amounts of Red and White size 10 thread

finished size is about 4 x 3 inches

This goes up very quickly and very cute to tuck into a card.


1. Chain 4, dc in 2nd ch from hook and across (3 dc), ch 2,turn.
2. 2dc in 1st st, dc in next, 2dc in last st (5 dc), ch 2,turn.
3. 2dc in 1st st, dc in next 3 st, 2 dc in last st (7 dc), ch 2, turn.
4 - 7. Repeat row three, there will be an additional dc between the increases in each row untill you reach 15 dc across.
8. Dc in each st across (15 dc) ch 2,turn.
9. 2 dc together (2dctog = 1 decrease), dc in next 5 st, ch 2, turn.
10. 2dctog, dc in next 2, 2dctog, ch 2, turn.
11. 2dctog, twice, fasten off.
12. Attach red thread to opposite side on outside of heart, ch 2, 2dctog, dc in next 5dc, ch 2,turn.
13. 2dctog, dc in next 2 st, 2dctog, ch 2, turn.
14. 2dctog, twice. DO NOT fasten off.
15. Sc around heart, 3 sc in point, join to first sc, fasten off.
16. Attach white thread, ch2, dc in each sc around with 3 dc in point, join to top of ch 2 beginning.
17. *Ch 3, sk 1 st, sc in next* around, join to 1st sc, fasten off.

Starch and block.

Bow

With about 60 inches of white thread fold in half to 30 inches, chain 45, fasten off. Make bow.

Seeing Red

with ...

a few hearts that will be tucked inside a card.

Hearts that will be used around the house.

And a red doily of my own design. Have to test the pattern and then will post.

Crocheting

Had a marvelous time yesterday. In the morning we started with a pattern from Michaels for a scarf and hat. The scarf is actually quite simple ... all chain 1 and single crochets ... the pattern looks really nice and is warm. Its a great way to start off practicing crocheting, so much so that my friend and I had our afternoon friend work with the same pattern. We both are also doing it ... I'm using left over yarn from my wool eater blanket and doing the scarf size (need sunglasse for this orange color) and my friend made the pattern wider and will be making a baby blanket in the prettiest blue.

Actually I am going to use up all the yarn left over from the wool eater by making the scarf size strips out of each skein and then join them for a lapghan. Should be a cheerful little ghan don't you think?

Oh, and let me tell you about the meatball soup we had ... ohhhhh, it too was marvelous. Such a hostess, certainly knows how to make a body feel at home and what a cook! It was such a nice day, a really blessed day. Sitting with hook in hand and enjoying the company of such wonderful people ... all day long. Can't ask for more.

Good Morning

Today is a crochet day in the truest sense. This morning a woman will be stopping by as I had said I would come and work with her crocheting before Christmas and like it usually happens, life got in the way and we've postponed till this morning. Then this afternoon off with a friend to another friend's house for .... yup, crochet! And she's making a wonderful soup for us. Not sure who gets the better of the deal!

In any case, what a day ... crochet and crochet. This must be heaven.

May the day be filled with His blessing and love.